152 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



New insecticides. — The search for new sources of plant insecti- 

 cides, in cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology, has shown 

 some striking results. The most promising source thus far examined 

 is Amianthium muscaetoxieum, known locally as fly poison or crow 

 poison, the decoction of which, used as a spray, successfully controlled 

 potato beetles and the fall webworm. 



INVESTIGATIONS OF CROP HANDLING AND STANDARDIZATION. 



Apple storage. — The results of the investigations in the handling 

 of northwestern apples for and in cold storage have been so con- 

 sistent and conclusive that this phase of work may be considered 

 completed. The results brought out particularly the importance of 

 picking apples of various varieties at the proper stage of maturity, 

 of careful handling in all harvesting and storage operations, of 

 prompt cooling, and proper storage temperatures. During past sea- 

 sons the growers have frequently suffered very large financial losses 

 from either too early or too late harvesting of apples of certain va- 

 rieties, such as Jonathan, Rome Beauty, and others. The work has 

 demonstrated clearly that the storage life of apples can be prolonged 

 from weeks to months by picking at proper maturity, and has shown 

 how the grower may know when his fruit is of proper maturity for 

 best results in storage. In connection with the investigations of 

 the cold storage of Yellow Newtown apples in the Watsonville dis- 

 trict in California, the most important discovery is without doubt 

 the relation of tree vigor to the keeping quality of fruit in storage. 

 Experiments extending over two seasons have clearly shown a marked 

 and consistent difference in the keeping quality of fruit from dif- 

 ferent trees, particularly trees that for any reason differ in vigor 

 and general healthfulness. During the past season the possibilities 

 of common, or air-cooled, storages in different sections were care- 

 fully investigated. The results of these investigations have clearly 

 shown the practicability of such storage under some conditions and 

 the economic saving resulting to the industry in the use of houses 

 properly constructed and managed. 



Investigations of temperatures of fruit in transit. — The results 

 of fruit-handling investigations during the past few seasons show 

 that the most important factor in determining the condition of either 

 fruits or vegetables in transit and after arrival on the market is the 

 temperature maintained in refrigerator cars during transportation. 

 All fresh fruit is alive, and the life activities continue with greater or 

 less rapidity until it goes into consumption; the temperatures main- 

 tained in transit determine to a great degree both the rate of ripening 

 and the development of fungi and other decay-producing organisms. 



The investigations during the past season have had mainly in view 

 the improvement of refrigerator-car equipment, especially as regards 

 insulation and facilities for free air circulation. The results of the 

 work thus far have shown that through certain modifications in the 

 ice bunkers, through the use of racks or false floors, and through bet- 

 ter insulation, it is entirely practicable to increase the efficiency of 

 refrigeration and to haul larger loads of fruit than formerly and 

 with a lesser ice consumption. 



The results are particularly of importance to the shippers in that 

 it appears certain that uniformly better refrigeration can ultimately 



